USA Gymnastics added as defendant in Nassar lawsuit

Here's what we know about the criminal cases, lawsuits and allegations related to sexual assault claims against former Michigan State University doctor Larry Nassar.
Matt Mencarini/Lansing State Journal

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A judge granted a request to add USA Gymnastics to a civil lawsuit filed against former Michigan State University doctor Larry Nassar.(Photo: Dave Wasinger/Lansing State Journal)Buy Photo

MASON - USA Gymnastics will be added as a defendant to a lawsuit filed by a woman against former Michigan State University doctor Larry Nassar.

Ingham County Circuit Court Judge William Collette on Wednesday granted the motion filed last week by attorneys for Katherine Payne, who alleges Nassar sexually assaulted her over the course of three years during medical procedures.

Payne filed her lawsuit in Ingham County in November. It is one of five lawsuits that have been filed against Nassar, who also faces criminal charges in state and federal court. Three of the lawsuits against Nassar are in California and another was filed this month in federal court in Grand Rapids. Two of the lawsuits name Michigan State University as co-defendants.

USA Gymnastics is now a defendant in three of the lawsuits. The organization didn't immediately respond to a message seeking comment.

The State Journal doesn't typically name alleged sexual assault victims, but Payne filed the lawsuit using her name instead of a pseudonym like many of the more than 20 others who have sued Nassar.

Nassar, 53, of Holt, is a figure in the national scandal facing USA Gymnastics for the way the organization handled sexual assault complaints. He served as a USA Gymnastics team physician for nearly 30 years and worked as a team doctor at MSU for nearly 20 years. The university fired him in September. He left USA Gymnastics in 2015.

In Ingham County, Nassar faces three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person younger than 13. The charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. In federal court, he faces two child pornography charges and an FBI agent testified in December that a search of Nassar's home found computers and hard drives with at least 37,000 images and video of child pornography.

Since September, when the Indianapolis Star detailed the accounts of two women who allege Nassar sexually assaulted them during medical procedures, roughly 60 women have made sexual assault claims against Nassar to law enforcement, officials have said. Some of the allegations date back decades and involve women who were minors at the time.

Nassar, who is being held without bond on the federal charges, wasn't at Wednesday's hearing and didn't have an attorney to represent him, although he has been served with the lawsuit.

Steven Hurbis, one of Payne's attorney's, told Collette that Nassar's criminal defense attorneys said the doctor hasn't retained counsel for the civil cases. Collette initially asked Hurbis how he could rule on a motion without Nassar present. Hurbis responded by saying Nassar choose not to attend or have an attorney represent him.

"He didn't choose not to be present," Collette said. "He's in jail."

Ultimately, Collette allowed the hearing to take place without Nassar or an attorney present. Hubris could have voluntarily dismissed the lawsuit and refiled with Nassar and USA Gymnastics as co-defendants rather than proceeding with a motion to add a party.